same is true of condoleezza rice who passed on incorrect cia information on weapons of mass destruction in iraq, but was still overwhelmingly confirmed as secretary of state. susan rice is closer to the president than anybody in his cabinet and has been an overachiever for most of her life. high school valedictorian, basketball star, rhodes scholar, rising star in the clinton administration, but she also has a reputation for blunt talk. >> by all accounts, she is talented, capable, and extremely abrasive. >> reporter: in the 2008 campaign she ridiculed hillary clinton's foreign policy experience and called john mccain reckless and confused. if the president does nominate her, those who know susan rice well say she's more than up for the fight, and although it would be a bruising confirmation battle, she almost certainly would have the votes to be confirmed. jonathan karl, abc news, washington. >>> interesting parallel that story points out between condoleezza, confirmation process, and this one. "the washington post," interesting profile, i like the human nuggets they find. as u.n. amba